Unlocking Value Addition in the Mango Value Chain: A Production- Processing Gap Analysis of the Kollapur–Pebbair–Wanaparthy Mango Cluster in Telangana, India

We have studied production, utilization, market structure, and processing in the mango value chain cluster of Kollapur-Pebbair-Wanaparthy in Telangana, India. The study focuses on production–processing mismatch and the existence of significant potential but inadequate local processing. It is a finished analytical study using secondary materials, horticulture and food processing government sources, research literature and consolidated regional estimates from earlier study. Analysis is done through descriptive statistics, percentage share of various product forms, cost breakdown in cultivation, value chain mapping and comparison with an example processing cluster. The estimated production is between 1.3–1.6 lakh tones from 33,000–35,000 acres, at an estimated average productivity of 4.5–5.5 tones/acre. 68 per cent of output comes to fresh market while 27% is dispatched outside to various external processing units, and 3% finds place in local processing and 2% is consumed at the farm/local level. At the mid-level production of 1.45 lakh tons it translates to 0.986 lakh tonnes of fresh market value; external processing adds another 0.3915 lakh tonnes, but only 0.0435 lakh tonnes local processing value addition. Highest estimated component of cultivation cost remains labour at 25 per cent, which is followed by plant protection and harvesting both at 14% per cent share, Fertilizers 12% transport 11% and Irrigation 10%. The paper establishes that lack of raw material is not a problem, it is the deficient connectivity of upstream-downstream segments along the value chain. An FPO-aggregated and cluster-approach based on market intelligence, collection center, cold chain infrastructure, mango pulp and puree production; quality assurance certification, finance and market development strategy is put forth.